XN000022-1979-09-01 — Page 2

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1979

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RATES INCREASED FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE

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PEOPLE RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PA) AND SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE (SNA) WILL NOW GET ABOUT 15 PER CENT MORE AS THE NEW RATES OF PAYMENT FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES COME INTO EFFECT TODAY (SATURDAY).

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID ARRANGEMENTS HAD BEEN MADE OVER THE PAST MONTHS FOR BENEFICIARIES TO BE PAID AT THE NEW RATES FROM TODAY.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IN PA CASES WHERE THE ORIGINAL CASH COUPONS COVERED A PERIOD BEYOND THE END OF AUGUST, SUPPLEMENTARY COUPONS WERE ISSUED FOR ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS ARISING FROM THE INCREASED RATES.

SNA RECIPIENTS ARE PAID THROUGH AUTO-PAY SYSTEM BY BANKS AND THE IR PAYMENTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY, HE SAID.

THE INCREASES, HE SAID, ARE ESTIMATED TO COST AN ADDITIONAL $31.2 MILLION UP TO THE END OF MARCH NEXT YEAR, AND THEREAFTER AN EXTRA $53.4 MILLION FOR A FULL YEAR,

THE SPOKESMAN SAID PAYMENT RATES FOR BOTH PA AND SNA WERE REVIEWED AND ADJUSTED FROM TIME TO TIME TO MAINTAIN THE IR PURCHASING POWER IN REAL TERMS. SNA COMPRISES THE OLD AGE AND DISABILITY ALLOWANCES.

THE MEANS-TESTED PA SCHEME PROVIDES MONTHLY CASH ASSISTANCE TO BRING THE INCOME OF A HOUSEHOLD IN NEED UP TO A LEVEL WHERE ESSENTIAL NEEDS SUCH AS FOOD AND CLOTHING CAN BE MET.

THE NON-MEANS TESTED SNA PROVIDES A MONTHLY CASH GRANT, ON TOP OF ANY PA PAYMENT, AS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILY TO LOOK AFTER AN ELDERLY OR SEVERELY DISABLED MEMBER AND TO ENCOURAGE HIM TO REMAIN FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

THE NEW RATES OF PAYMENT ARE AS FOLLOWS:

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

SINGLE PERSON LIVING ALONE

EACH OF FIRST THREE MEMBERS OF A FAMILY

EACH OF SECOND THREE MEMBERS OF FAMILY

EACH ADDITIONAL FAMILY MEMBER THEREAFTER

OLD AGE SUPPLEMENT (FOR ANY PA RECIPIENT

AGED 60 AND OVER)

$230

$165

$140

$105

$115

/ANNUAL LONG-TREM